Instruments - Part 11

Drum

The drum is an ancient instrument used in cultures around the world.

In the orchestra, the most advanced type of drums are kettledrums, or timpani.  Each drum is tuned to play a particular pitch.  Foot pedals allow the drummer to change the pitch.

A timpanist usually has 4 timpani, tuned to different pitches.  This allows the drummer to actually play tunes, as heard here in an excerpt from Symphonic Metamorphosis by Hindemith, played by Javier Eguillor (sorry, he's not naked).

Another versatile type of drum is the snare drum.  It produces a sharp, rasping sound due to wires stretched across the drumhead inside the drum.  It's used in orchestras, bands, and marching bands.

This recent sculpture in Truro, Cornwall, England, by Tim Shaw, called The Drummer, reminds me of a drummer in a military band, though military drummers usually wear more clothing.  For some reason the statue drew a lot of comment from locals.

The number of shapes and sizes of drums is endless.  This guy is playing a hand-held drum.

The bongos, a set of two drums, originated in Cuba but may have been derived from earlier African drums.  Bongos are most often heard in Cuban and other Latin music.  Of course, they are usually played with the hands.

The drums that most people are familiar with are the drums in a drum set used for playing rock or pop music.

Drum sets include other percussion instruments like cymbals.  Want a closer look?

No problem.

This is the drummer of the band Jane's Addiction playing in Honolulu in 1991.  (No, it's not my photo.  I wasn't in Hawaii then.)

Here are some excerpts from a memorable performance by the drummer of the Brazilian band Los Bandas do Oficina.  The music isn't very memorable, but to tell the truth, I wasn't paying too much attention to the music.

We end with this drawing by Harry Bush.  Drummer magazine was a gay leather/BDSM magazine from 1975 to 1999.  Aside from the name, it had nothing to do with today's topic of drums, but I'm guessing you won't complain.